- Botox®Cosmetic
- Fat Injection
- Introduction
- How It Is Done
- Patient Photographs
- What to Expect After Surgery
- Complications
- Care After Surgery
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Restylane® and JuvédermTM
- Laser Skin Resurfacing
- Laser Facial Hair Removal
- Laser Vein Treatment
- Eyelid Rejuvenation
- Ideal NoseTM
- Submental Liposuction
- Ear Cosmetic Surgery
- Removal of Facial Moles
- Chin and Jawline Enhancement
- Laser Treatment of Birthmark
- Microdermabrasion
Fat Injection - Complications
- Asymmetry. There may be more swelling on one side than the other shortly after injection. This tends to correct itself as the swelling subsides. Although I measure the amount of fat injected to minimize unevenness, persistent asymmetry is possible. If this occurs, it is usually in the lips, and the remedy is to inject a little more fat on the deficient side. This may be done under local anesthetic in the office.
- Nodules. It is possible to overinject fat and have a persistent area of fullness. In most cases, this gradually settles down. If a few months have been allowed and there is a persistent visible nodule, this may be excised using a small incision at the site. If the nodule is one you can feel but not see, it probably represents scar tissue that will eventually soften and it is best to just be patient and let it improve with time. The tear trough areas are notorious for such nodules and this area demands expertise on the part of the surgeon to fill in the trough while avoiding conspicuous irregularities. Minor degrees of fullness or nodules you can feel but not see are best left alone to soften on their own.
- Infection. Fortunately, this is rare on the face.
- Fat embolus. This is a scary complication indeed. Presumably, a fat globule enters one of the little arteries supplying an area of skin of the face, or, worse, the eye, potentially causing skin loss or even blindness. Of course, this is very rare. Recommended techniques to reduce this risk include the use of of blunt injection cannulae (as opposed to sharp needles) and low pressure subcutaneous injection. Preoperative injection with lidocaine and epinephrine probably helps by shrinking the blood vessels and this also lessens the potential for bruising.
- Fat hypertrophy. If there is significant weight gain after surgery, the transplanted fat cells may also enlarge, like fat cells in other parts of the body, causing excessive fullness in the treated areas. Fortunately, this is seldom a problem in practice.
